Electric switch apparatus.



A. P. BERRY. ELEGTRIQ SWHUH APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 6. 1906.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

A; F. BERRY.

LLEGTRIU SWITCH APPARATUS. APPLIOATIOK 11.21) APR 6. 1m. 930,928, Patented Aug. 10, 1909 3 8IIEET8-SHBET 2.

I mmm H A5 v I A. F. BERRY. ELBGTBIG SWITCH APPARATUS.

APPLIUATIOR' FILED APR. 6. 1906.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

AltlllliIt FltANtIS BERRY, OI EALING, ENGLAND.

E1 :ECTRIG SWITCH APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

Application filed April 6, 1906. Serial No. 310,378.

To all who? it may cow-com:

lie it known that l, An'rlu'n Fnxxcls movable contact or contacts of one or more of the switches to be moved to a greater extent than the movable contact or contacts of the remaining switch or switches when the apparatus is actuated to open and close the switches; and also in some cases to enable the greater pressure exerted by the movable switch contact or contacts having the smaller mmeiiicnt against the corresponding fixed contacts, when the switches are closed, to' balance or tend to balancethc smaller pressure then exerted by the movable switch contact or contactshaving the'grcatcr movement against; the corrcispending fixed contacts, the construction'moreover being such, as heretofore, that in the act of closing the switches, the rnovablc'parts of the apparatus will assume positions in which they will become au- 'toinatically locked'or held in the operative or closed position against the action of gravity, or a spring, oryibrat on, so that they will not accidentally assume the-open position but will nevertheless be free to e positively nuwedmto the open position when required. In a switch embodylng the present invenhy unconnected toreciprocating parts (here matter called carriers) that. are so connected together through Intermediate connecting niech'anisin that when one of them is moved links, the

tion two movable switch contacts or two sets of movable switch contacts are carried inclined to each, othecand jointed together;

at adjacent ends and arranged to act, at their ends so jointed and preferably through an antifrictionroller, against a fixed abutment, the other end or ends of one or some of the links bcin jointed to one of the carriers and the ot 101' end or ends of the remaining link or links being jointed to the other carrier. The arrangement is such that when one of the carriers, for example that having the greater motion, is moved end wise. in one direction, the links jointed to it will cause the links jointed to the other or second carrier to turn about their points of attachment to the latter carrier and to move upon the fixed abutment and simultaneously more the second carrier in an endwlsc direc- .tion but to a smaller extent than that to which the first carrier is moved, each of the last mentioned links being finally moved past a line passing through its center of motion and per wndicular to the abutment so that the sets of links and carriers will be locked or held in the positions into which they have been moved, whereby accidental displacement and opening of the switches by vibration or other cause will be prevented, but the carriers can nevertheless, when desired, be readily moved in the reverse direction to open the switches.

()ncof the carriers may conveniently be fixed to two iron rings or plates arranged to form the two armaturcs of a double acting electro-magnctic device having two windings the circuits of which are adapted to be closed alternately across a source of electric energy by an electrically operated switch or relay, as in short circuiftin moans according to the. s nrcifications o ormer Letters Patent granted to me, viz. Nos. 796555 and 800538 of 1905. One of the said carriers may be arranged to actuate the movable contacts of a mechanically operated switch that is adapted at each 0 )cration'of the switch apparatus to break t rat circuit of the winding of the electro-magnetic' device which caused such operation and to close the circuit of the other winding of the said device at one oint thereof in readiness to allow of its mini; completely closed at a second point by t 1e electrical operated switch or relay, as described int e specification of my former patent No. 80053 :of 1905.

The invention furtheroonsists invarious other novel featurestof construction and in the contact 7- is constituted are preferably of ed end portion n that is connected to the block or plate 1) of insulating material fixed combinations and arrangements of parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

Switch apparatus according to this invention can be constructed in various forms.

In the accompanying illustrative draw-i ings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation and Fig. :2 a side elevation showing one construction of switch apparatus cn'iLulying; the present invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showings modified construction.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, one of the switch carriers comprises a hollow vertical brass rod a arranged to move endwise through the hollow center of the iron core b of a vertically arranged clectro magnet device 0 of the kind hereinbetore referred to, provided with two windings 5 and e and fixed to a verticalbase or support f of insulating material. The device 0 is provided at its ends, as before, with two niovable iron rings or plates g and A. that serve as armatures and are fixed to the rod 11. Eachof the rin s or plates 1 and h is grooved on thesi 0 next to the core so as to lit the corresponding end thereof when attracted thereto, the grooves 71 and j in the parts g and It being preferably of truncated conical shape in cross section (as shown in Fig. 1) and the adjacent ends is and m of the core 71 being of 'corres'pondin shape. lhe rod a is provided with a lower screw-threadupper portion through a length of'insulating material 0, and has fixed to it, between washers p and nuts g, the movable contact a" of the switch that'is designed to have the larger opening movement and which may therefore be a high tension switch. The movable contact 7', may, as shown, conveniently consist of.av number of circularly bent strips of copper placed one upon another with their concave sides upmost and with their ends in a common horizontal plane and adapted, when raised, 'to bear against the lower fiat surfaces'of two stationary switch contacts 8 and t that are fixed to the vertical support f and are connected to a. pair of insulated terminals one of which n is shown in Fig. 2. The bent strips of copper of which successive] y increasing thickness fronrtop to bottom.

'The second switch carrier comprises a to a metal plate z. The plate a is rovided with tubular lugs 1 arranged to s ide vertically on guide pins 2 that are fixed to and extend upwardly from the upperarmature plate 9 and work through vertical guides 3 in a bracket 4 fixed to the vertical support. f. Upon the top of the carrier is secured, by :mrcws, a truncated I\sh'aped metal block- 5 that forms the movable contact of a second swit h, which may be a low tension switch, r

and the two slationary contacts-7 and 8 of which are lived to the base or support f and are connected to a palr of insulated terminals. of which one 10 is shown in Fig. 2. The stationary contacts 7 ands are in the form of vertically laminated copper blocks having conlact surfaces inclined to each other so as to form a l\-shaped space in which the corrrspomling li-shapcd movable contact block 5 works, the stationary contacts 7 and 5 having a small degree olf resiliency, due to thel'l"lamination, so that they will yield -slightly when the movable contact 5 is forced against them.

The upper end 11. ot' the carrier rod a,

which is wider than the adjacent )orlion of the rod (1, is arranged between the carrier plate 2 and the bracket 4, and to opposite sides of it are jointed the upper ends of two )airs of links 12 the lower ends of which are ointed to the lower ends oft other links 13 the upper ends of which are jointed to vertical webs 14 on the carrier plate 2. The lower adjacent jointcdends of each set of the links 12 and 13 carry an antif'riction roller .lti that bears against a horizontal abutment surface 17 on the bracket l. The arrangement of the links l2 and 13 is such that when the carrier rod (.4 is moved down ward from the position shownby the attraction of the upper armature g, due to the completion of the circuit of the upper winding cl of the olectronmgnetic device c,.to 0 )en the lower switch, the links 12 will force tl ie lower ends of the links Iii-outwardly pasttheir centers of motion in the projections 14 of the plate 2 and cause the carrier plate 2 with the upper movable contact 5 to descend and 0 en the upper switch, the extent ofvertical movementpf the upper movable contact 5 being less than that of the lower movable contact 1'; and when the carrier rod c is afterward raised by the at.- traction ol the lower armature plate /e., due to the completion of the circuit of the lower whaling c of the electroma netic device a, to close the switches, the lin (s 12 will draw the lower ends of the links 13 inward past their centers of motion in the projections 14 and raise the carrier plate z with the upper movable contact 5, the jointed lower cm s of the two sets of links finall passing inward to a small extent beyond motion of the links 13, so that. the links under the action of the upper laminated stationary spring contacts 7 and 8 will act.

to hold the two movable switch contacts '1' and 5 in thclrposltions of closure. lresthe centers of.

sure will be transmitted from one movable contact to the other through the intermediate connections. A balance .hctwcen the two pressures with the links 13 in a suitable po- "tion, can be obtained by adjusting the pressure of the lower ct'intact 'r against the corresponding fixed contacts's and t by means t therod is depressed;

earl 0 of the nuts 9 and washers 17 between which it is held, the different inclinations of the links 12 and 13 to the surfaces 17 against which their rollers 16 bear. enabling the smaller pressure of the contact r to balance the greater pressure of the cont-acts 7 and 8. B suitably constructing and arranging the links 12 and 13, the extent of movement of the two carriers and their switch contacts can be varied in any desired ratio to suit re uirements.

he mechanical]; operated switch shown in combination with the elect rically act uated switches, comprises a thrcearmml lever 18 pivoted to the base or support f and pro vided at its ends with contact pins 19 that are pressed endwise by blade springs 20, attached to the lever 18, and are arranged to work over insulated metal segments 2], 22, and 23 fixed to the vertical support f. The two segments 21 and 22 are connected each to one end of one or other of the two windingsd and e of the eleclro-nnignetic dc.- vice c and are so arranged that the lever 18 is, at the ends of its movement, in electrical connection with only one of them at a time. Theithird segment 23 is connected to one, polevof asource of current; and the third arm of the lever 18 is constantly in electrical connection with it; through the pin 19 of the former. The lever 18 i. connected by a pin 24, engagin' in a slot 25 therein, to an arm 26 carried hy the iece of insulating. material 6 connecting t to upper and lower portions' of the rod 1!, so that the lever 18 will be termed in one direction when the rod a is raised. and in the opposite direction when lonscqnently, when thefeleetro magnetie device c 15 operated to raiseior lower the rod 11, the lever 18 is moved to break the circnit through the windingcl or we then energized and to close the circuit. throu h the other of these windings-so that thel atter circuit is ready to he completedby the relay employed ferlaetuating the switches at the next (reverse) 0 rec, amen, described in my aforesaid speei eation' No. 800538 of 1905.

Fig; 3 shows a wherein the u )per armature g carries a pair of inclined planes 28 adapted to force the rollers .16 inward, the rod It carries a pair of rollers QSJ-adapted to force the rollers 16 one warthandthc upper ends of the links 19 are mmncctodto theupper end 11 of the rod 1!.

by pin and slot connections 30. The arrangement is such that when the'rod is moved-upward by the armature /l, the iu-' cliued planes 28 will, inst bct'ore'the comp-lete' closing;- of the switches, strike directly against the rollers 16 and move the links. 13 inward past their dead centers, the. pin and slot connections 30 allowing the links 12 to more '11- Ward to pbsmall extent independthe rod 11, and when the rod (t is modified arrangen'ient' I it is connected.

moved downward by the armaturc r to open the switcher-1. the rollers 29 will strike directly against the rollers It? and for e the links l t outward past their dead centers, the Yin and slot connecti ns allowing the inks 12 to more downward to a small extent independently of the rod 1/. hi this way the opening and closing ol the switch apparatus is facilitated. ln this modified example. the lower movable contact is shown as a metal bar r hurling; upwardly extendin; w -dge shaped (lltlwv' 1 arranged to enter between corrc:- mnd|uglyshaped spring contacts a and t lixed to the support f.

.\s will be obvious the details of construction can be variou ly modified without dcpartinp; from the essential features of the HIVOIIUHII.

What I claim is:---

1. Electric switch apparatus comprising two movable contacts means whereby morement of one of said contacts will cause movement -o:l' the other of said contacts, said means comprising separate carriers for said conta ts and links jointed to said carriers res )(lt'llYt'lY and also terminally jointed together, and an abutment arranged to guide those ends of said links that are jointed togcther.

2. Electric switch apparatus. com n'ising two movable contacts, means whereby the movement of one of said contacts to a given extent in the direction of closure will more the other of said contacts too different extcnt, said means com 'hiswp; separate carriers for said contacts and lin is jointed to the respective carriers and also terminally jointed together. and an abutment arranged to guide those ends of said links that are jointed togcthcr. i

3. Electric switch two movable contacts, nient oil one of said contacts in either direction will more the other ol said contacts, said means comprising,' separatc carriers for said contacts and links jointed to the respective carriers aml also terminally jointed to gether, and-an abutment arranged to guide those ends of said links that are joi-ntcdtonether, the common axis of said links. being arranged to-move parallel to the corresponding portion of said abutment during the. opening and closing movements of said switch and to cross the line drawn parallel to the dire tion of motion of said cont-acts and through the axis. of oscillation of one of said links in relation to the carrier to which apparatus comprising means whereby move- 4. Electric switch"apmratus comprising two movable contact devices, two carriers to which said contact dcvices-are connected, links jointed to said carriers respectively and also terminally jointed together, means fol-guiding said carriersrectilineally, and an abutment. devicearranged to guide those each set being ends of said links that are jointed together, the said links being arranger] so that movement of our of said carriers in one direction will move the link connected to the other carrier slightly past a dead cont-r1 in relation to said abutment device. i

5. Electric switch apparatus comprising two lixed contact devices, two movable contact devices, and means whereby movement of one of said movable contact devices to a given extent in the direction of closure will move the other of said movable contact devices to a different extent, said means comprising separate movable carriers for said contacts and links jointed to the respective carriers and also terminally jointed together, and an abutment, device arranged to guide those ends of said links that are jointed together, the link connected to one carrier bein v arranged to move that connected to the ot er carrier across a line drawn parallel to the direction of motion of said movable contact devices and carriers and through the axis of oscillation of t-helatter link in relatie'm to the movable contact carrier to which it is connected.

6. Electric switch apparatus comprising two fixed contact devices, two movable contact devices, two carriers to which said movable contact devices are connected, links jointed to said carriers respectively and also terminally jointed together, means for guiding said carriers rectilineally, and an abutment device arranged to uide those ends of said links that are jointc to ether, the links connected to one carrier icing arranged more Y nearly parallel to the direction of movement of said movable contact devices than those connected to the other carrier so that. during movement of onset said carriers and its contact device to a given extent in the direction of closure the links, connected to the other carrier will be moved sli htly past a dead center in r 'lation to said abutment device. r

7. Electric switch apparatus com )rising two fixed contact devices, two movab e contact devices, two carriers to which said movable contact devices are connected, sets of links arranged at 0p ositc sides of the axis of movement of said carriers, the links 'in jointed to said carriers respectively an also te r|ni| 1al l jointed together means for guiding sai carriers rectilineally, and an abutmentdevlce arranged to guide thoseendsof said links that are jointed together, the links in each set being inclined to each other and at difi erent angles to the direction of movement of said carrier with movement of one o! saidv carriers and its contact device to a given extent in the direction of closure will move the links connected to the other carrier "slightly past a dead center in relation to said abutment (levice and will move the latter carrier and movable contact device to a different extent.

8. Electric switch apparatus romprising twomovable rontacts, means whereby movement. of one of said contacts will cause movement of the other of said contacts, said means comprisin v separate carriers for said mntarts and linlis jointed to said carriers res )(PUtiHly and also terminally jointed toget an. an abutment arranged to guide those ends ot said links that are jointed together and means independent. of said links for adjusting the normal distance between the movable contacts.

9. Electric switch apparatus comprising two movable contacts. means whereby the movement of one of said contacts to a given extent in the direction of closure will move the other of said contacts to a different extent, said means comprising separate carriers for said contacts and inks jointed to the respective carriers and also terminally jointed together. an abutment arranged to wide those ends of said links that are ointed together, and means independent of said links for adjusting one of said contacts axially in relation to its carrier.

10. Electric switch apparatus comprising a movable contact device. a vertical carrier to which said contact device is connected, at second movable contact device, a carrier to which said serond cc itact device is connected, a fixed almtmentl jjevice having horizontal surfaces. links join ed at'their up er ends above said surfaces to the upper on of said vertiral carrier, links jointed at their upper ends to the secolully mentioned carrier and at.v their lower ends to the lower ends of the aforesaid links, means for guiding the secondly mentioned carrier vertically, antifriction rollers carried by the tower ends of said links and bearing against said surfaces, and fixed contact devices, said movable and fixed contact devices being, arranged to bear against each other iunultanemrsly and resiliently with said second movable contact dejointed to the secondly mentioned movable contact device being caused by movement of the other movable contact device into said highest position to he moved to a small ex.- tent past their centers of motion so as,. in con'unct ion with the resilience of the contact devices, to hold the movable contact devices against accidental movement.

11. Electric switch apparatus comprising a fixed contact device, -a movable contact device. two rarricrs to one of which said movable contact device is'eonnccted, links jointed to said carriers respectively and also tern'iiually jointed together, a. double, acting eleetro-nlagnetic device through \\'l\l(:ll the htt'til'ltl carrier is arranged to move rectilinearly and which is provided with arumtnrcs .110 rice in its highest position, and said links fixed to said carrier. and an abutment device arranged to guide those ends of said links that are jointed together and permit them to be moved in one or other (lll'fit'fllf'll'l slightly past a delad center when they are operated I v mo-vemelst of said arn'iatures.

12. Electric switch apparatus comprising a fixed. contact device, a movable contact device, two carriers to one of which said movable contact device is connected, links jointed to said carriers respectively and also terminally jointed together, a double acting electro-nmgnetic device through which the second of said carriers is arrangedto move rectilinearlv and which is provided with armatures fixed to said second carrier, an abutment device arranged to guide those ends of said links that are jointed together so that movement of the second carrier to a given extent in the directionof closure of the switch apparatus will move each of the links col'mected to the other carrier slightly past a dead center in relation to said abutment device, and means operated from said arn'iatures and arranged to act alternately in opposite directions upon the ends of the links that are jointed together and assist them to nove past their dead centers when the armatures are moved alternately in oppo-' site directions.

'- 1-3. In an electric switch, the combination with two reetilincarly i-novable contact carriers of an elei' tro-iiiagnetic device having a rcctilinearlv n'iovablc armature connected to one of said contact carriers, sets of links, the links in each set being jointed together at one end and some of them being freely jointed at their other ends to one of thecontact carriers arid the remainder being jointed to the other contact carrier, at fixed abutment device against which the ends of'said links that are jointed together can act, devices carried by said armature and arranged, when the same moves in one direction, to act against and force the jointed ends of said links past their dead ceuters,-in one direction, and devices conne ed to said armature and arranged when saiu armature moves in the opposite direction, to force the said jointed ends of said links past their dead centers in the opposite direction.

l4. In an electric switch, the combination with two rectilinearly movable contact oarricrs, of an electro-maguetic device having a rcct-ilinearly movable armature connected to one of said contact carriers, sets of links, the links in each set being jointed together at; one end through an -i'nterposed roller and some of "them being. freely jointed 'at their other ends to one of the contact carriers and the remainder bein r jointed to the other coni tuct carrier, a tiger abutment. device against which ,lhc cnds of saidilinks that are jointed together can" act, inclined planes earrnnl by said armature and Hll'ttllgt'tl to act against.

their gdea the rollers connected to the sets of links and to move such links past their dead centers, m one direction. and means connected to the carrier fixed to the armature for acting against the rollers and moving the links past centers in the opposite direction on the re erse movement of said armature.

15. In an electric switch, the combination of two rectilinearly movable contact carriers a and z, a don le acting clectro-magnet having two arn'iatnres at its opposite ends, said carrier (L extending through said magnet and being fixed to the armatures thereof, a stationary abutment located between said contact carrier 2; and one of said armatures, sets of links 12--l3 between said carriers, those ends of the links in each set nearest said abutment being jointed to an interposed roller arranged to work against saidabutment, the other ends of the links 12 being connectedby pin and slot connections to said carrier a and the other ends of the links 13 being jointed to the carrier inclined planes 28 carried by one of said armatures and arranged to work tln'i'mgh said abutment and act against the rollers in an inward direction when the armaturcs lnoic toward them, and rollers supported by the m-rima and arranged to act against the. first mentioned rollers in an outward direction when the armatures move in the opposite direction,

16. An electric switch comprising upper and lower pairs of l-ixed switch contacts, a support therefor, upper and lower movable contacts arranged to coiiperatehvith said fixed contacts, a horizontal plate-like carrier for the upper movable contact, a vertical rod-like carrier for the lower movable contact, an electro-magnct lixcd to said support and having two windings and also two armatures arranged at its respective ends, the vertical carrier extending llllOlH'll said electro-magnet and armaturcs am? being coln'iectod to said armalures, an abutment fixed to said support and arranged between the, upper carrier and armature, vertically disposeiil sets of links connected to and arranged between etid carriers, the links in each set being jomled at their lower ends to a roller arralnrcd to work against said abutment, some 0. said links being jointed at their upper ends to the upper horizontal carrier and the romailnler being jointed by pin and slot. connections to the upper end of the vertical carrier, and means connected respectively to the upper armature and ver tical carrier forassistlng the lower jointed ends of the sets of links to move past their dead centers when the armatures ascend and descend. v

17. An electric switch comprising upper and lower. pairs of li-xed switch contacts, a support therefor, upper and lower movable culllurls arranged to coiiperale with said' fixed contacts, a horizontal plate-like carrier for the upper movable contact, a vertical rod-like carrier for the lower movable contact, an electro-nmgnet fixed to said support and having two windings and also two arlnatnres arranged at its respective ends, the vertical carrier extending throu '11 said electro-lnagnet and annatures an being connected to said armntnres, an abutment fixed to said support and arranged between the upper carrier and armature, sets of links connecting the upper end of the vertical carrier to the horizontal carrier and arranged to co-act with said abutment as set forth, a switch lever pivoted to said support below 2 said magnetv and insulated. from but an; ranged to be operated in opposite directions by said vertical emu-r, two fixed switch contacts connected to the respective windings of said magnet and over which said switch lever works so as to bear against only one or other of them when it is at the end of its movement in one or other direclion, and a third fixed contact that is in constant connection with said switch lever and is adapted to be corniected to a source of electrical energy.

Signed at London England this 26th day of lwfllch 190G.

ARTHUR FRANCIS BERRY.

\Vitncsses H. D. JAMESON, R. F. \VILLIAns. 

